During the past week the world learned of the passing of Brooklyn based rapper MF DOOM. Born Daniel Dumile, the masked villain personified by Dumile released some of the most fun, clever, rhyme filled albums that the hip-hop industry has ever seen. Largely independent, MF Doom AKA Viktor Vaughn AKA King Gheedorah AKA Metal Fingers AKA Zev Love X’s imprint on the underground hip hop sound will be impossible to replace. In memory of his passing, we wanted to take a quick trip through the history of MF DOOM’s musical library, in case you’ve never given his music a listen.

Much has already been written about his unparalleled rhyming ability, but so much of DOOM’s success is based on his skills as a producer. “Special Herbs Vol. 1 and 2” was much of the world’s introduction to Metal Fingers, and you can’t get any more bright than the opening track “Saffron”. For those of us not culinarily inclined saffron is used as seasoning and a coloring agent. Fitting given that the track was later used as the backdrop for my personal favorite DOOM track, “Doomsday”. Sprinkle some Sade’ over some saffron, simmer with some off the wall lyrics, and you have “Doomsday”.

“On Doomsday. Ever since the womb

Till I’m back where my brother went, that’s what my tomb will say

Right above my government: Dumile (Doom will lay).

Either unmarked or engraved hey who’s to say”

Carrying the persona of the villain with ease, Dumile was able to give birth to so many dastardly deeds that only a super villain could pull off. So without wasting anymore time, we wanted to take a look at MF DOOMs most infamous attempts at villainy….

Accordion
“Tripping of the beat kinda, dripping of the meat grinder.

Heat niner, pimpin, strippin soft sweet c-minor.

China was a neat signer, trouble with the script.

Digits double dipped, bubble lipped, subtle lisp midget”

Here DOOM uses his skills as a pimp to have a woman named China write fake prescriptions for him so he can peddle them on the streets. Extra points for that last line.

Villain Scale - 3/10

Figaro

What could be more villainous than finding a sugar momma, stickin it, then taking her for her wealth? Well, that’s what DOOM finds himself up to, and Anita Baker just happens to be the victim….

“The flow make her fatty shake, patty cake, patty cake

For fake, if he was Anita Baker’s man

He’d take her for her masters, hit it once and shake her hand.

On some ol “thank you ma’am” and ghost her.

She could mind the toaster if she sign the poster”

Similar to rap industry executives, DOOM is out for every artist’s masters. Poor AnitaBaker, she deserves better. Coincidentally enough, DOOM sampled Anita Baker’s “Sweet Love” on the instrumental “Jasmine Blossom”, which later became the track “Hoe Cakes” on MM...Food. There are LEVELS to this villain.

Villain Scale - 8/10

Hoe Cakes

“He keep his hoes in check

Sends 'em out to get glows from off frozen necks

Tell 'em take his clothes, leave him posing naked for real

Better yet, get him for the check off the record deal

Find out where he keep the Tec and the blue steel

Make sure for extra wreck, let him know how you feel”

Another example of DOOM leveraging his relationship with women to conduct criminal mischief, this time the women are stealing from the other men that they are with going so far as to utilize emotional manipulation to further wreck their victims. These are next level moves we’re dealing with, bonus points for the originality.

Villain Scale - 6/10

Gazzilion Ear

“Once sold an inbred skinhead a n***a joke

Plus a brand new chrome smoker with the triggers broke.

….

Took a Jehovah money for a Arabic Torah.

And charged in advance to translate it and ingored it sorta”

Ignoring racial and religious stereotypes for the sake of robbing people. Wow.

Villain Scale - 3/10

Rhinestone Cowboy

“Hold the cold one like he hold a old gun.

Like he hold the microphone and stole the show for fun”

Kon Queso

“When he hit the stage, it’s like a gauge to the rib cage.

Break the mic like a rock star break a guitar

And jump off the stage like “Yee Haw!”

One Beer

“He plot shows like robberies.

In and out - one,two, three - no bodies, please.

Run the cash and you won’t get a wet sweatshirt.

The mic is the shotty: nobody move, nobody get hurt”

Now perhaps the greatest heist of all, DOOM has alluded to using his shows as a plot to rob people. There is no shortage of creativity when it comes to DOOM, and using his concerts as a method to rob people is as villainous as it gets. Perhaps even more villainous is that this crime actually took place. From 2007 through 2010, and even as recent as 2019, there were reports of DOOM sending fake performers to lip sync his entire show. Take it from the man himself,

“Everything that we do is villain style,” Doom says. “Everybody has the right to get it or not get it. Once I throw it out, it’s there for interpretation. It might’ve seemed like it didn’t go well, but how do we know that wasn’t just pre-orchestrated so that we’re talking about it now? I tell you one thing: People are asking more now for live shows and I’m charging more, so it must’ve worked somewhere.”

Art truly does imitate life.

Villain Scale - 10/10